Fall 2027 Fellowship Sponsorship, Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU invites rising third-year law students and law graduates to apply for a sponsorship opportunity to work with us as a Legal Fellow for one or two years. The Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief of the National office in Washington, D.C. seeks applicants to consider for a sponsored public interest fellowship to begin in the fall of 2027.

OVERVIEW

We will review applications on a rolling basis, but priority consideration will be given to those who submit applications by July 1, 2026.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Reporting to the Project Director, the Fellow will support the litigation and advocacy work of the project, focusing on safeguarding the separation of church and state and protecting the right to religious exercise.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Conduct legal research and analysis and develop theories to support new litigation projects
• Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs
• Interview witnesses and potential clients
• Participate in discovery and trial practice
• Draft and edit public education and non-litigation advocacy materials
• Provide support and assistance to ACLU affiliates and cooperating attorneys
• Help manage summer legal internship program and supervise student interns
• Engage in public speaking and attend meetings and/or conferences as needed
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• J.D. or expected to receive a J.D. by the spring of 2027
• Admission to practice in Washington, D.C; if not currently admitted, agreement to become admitted within one year of hire
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil liberties, criminal justice, and racial justice
• Willingness to work closely with the Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief through the funding application process
• Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to conduct complex legal analysis and fact-finding
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to work independently as well as within a team
• Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative, manage a variety of tasks and see projects through to completion

COMPENSATION

The ACLU has a litigator scale that determines pay for attorneys in our Legal Department. The range of salaries are the following, based on year of law school graduation (please consult the hiring manager for specific salary details, based on individual circumstances).

• 0-2 years since law school graduation: $96,069 - $120,009
• 3-5 years since law school graduation: $134,414 - $158,579
• 6-10 years since law school graduation: $165,839 - $187,087
• 11-15 years since law school graduation: $190,585 - $201,403
• 16-20 years since law school graduation: $203,304 - $208,540
• 21-25 years since law school graduation: $209,595 - $213,890
• 26-30+ years since law school graduation: $214,920 - $219,104

The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. These salaries are reflective of positions based in New York, NY, where our National Offices are headquartered. Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.

For details on our pay structure, please visit:

https://www.aclu.org/careers/ACLU_Geographic_Pay_Structure-July_2024.pdf

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being.

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Skills & Tags

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